Teyana Taylor did not just default to a standard pair of Vans for her Essence Festival press conference. She picked one of the skate brand’s most watched recent collaborations, wearing Satoshi Nakamoto x Vans OTW Era 95 Round Lucky Charm sneakers on Friday night at the 2026 Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans.
Teyana Taylor, who wears Satoshi Nakamoto x Vans OTW Era 95 Round Lucky Charm sneakers, and Courtney Coco Gilbert speak during a press conference at the 2026 Essence Festival of Culture on Friday in New Orleans, La.
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Taylor, who spoke alongside Courtney Coco Gilbert at Caesars Superdome, styled the black low-top sneakers with long black basketball-style shorts, white Basquiat socks, a gold chain and a black Spike Tey The Aunties T-shirt, nodding to both her directing pseudonym and her creative collective.
The “One Battle After Another” star wore the Era 95 in black canvas with matching laces, a pale pre-scuffed midsole and Satoshi Nakamoto branding along the sidewall. Multicolor round beads sat across the lower lace area, while gem embellishments covered the toe box of the low-cut silhouette and continued around the collar. On the back, a checkerboard heel detail kept the Vans language intact beneath the collaboration’s heavier decoration.
A closer look at Teyana Taylor’s Satoshi Nakamoto x Vans OTW Era 95 Round Lucky Charm sneakers, which she paired with Basquiat socks.
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This isn’t the first time Taylor has donned Satoshi Nakamoto x Vans kicks, either. In April 2025, she wore the collaboration’s Pearlized Army sneakers at Coachella’s Neon Carnival, opting for the olive low-top style with black trim, pearl and rhinestone embellishments, fuzzy burgundy laces and distressed white rubber soles.
The choice also fits a longer sneaker history for Taylor. The Harlem native has released designs with Air Jordan and Reebok, and her casual looks often center on collectible footwear as opposed to quiet basics.
Satoshi Nakamoto x Vans OTW Era 95 Round Lucky Charm Sneakers
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The collaboration has become one of Vans’ clearest recent entries into the hype-sneaker conversation. In April, Vans’ Fifth Avenue store in New York closed after police responded to disorderly conduct tied to the Satoshi Nakamoto x Vans Era “Gems” release. That pair continued the decorated formula with multicolor gemstone studs on the collar and toe box, distressed black canvas and a checkerboard layer designed to show through as the upper wore down.
Vans has also pushed the look beyond the Satoshi Nakamoto releases. Its recent Pearlized Pack, released in March, brought pearl placements, pre-scuffed midsoles and punk-leaning embellishment to the Premium Old Skool 36 and Classic Slip-On, extending the same appetite for skate shoes that look already customized before they leave the box.
Alphonso David, Teyana Taylor, Courtney Coco Gilbert, Amanda Butler, Mayor Helena Moreno, Kirk McDonald and Makesha Judson at the 2026 Essence Festival of Culture.
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Taylor’s press conference appearance came as she takes on a larger role at Essence Festival of Culture. In March, organizers named her chief curator for the 2026 festival, with her creative collective, The Aunties, working with Essence on programming for the New Orleans event.
